Monday, April 02, 2007

CWO blog challenge

I can't tell you this story without first admitting my wrong. I love the spirit of Christmas. The music, the lights, the hustle bustle, and the way the people just seem to act more pleasant. I love to get involved in giving in some way each year, but I have to admit that I get frustrated with feeling that eveyone wants money to help with their cause. I have felt this way for years and until friday I had not yet been convicted of my wrong. So here was my lesson:Ashlynn wanted to go with me to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things and decided to take her money (that she worked three weeks to earn) to buy her friend a birthday present. Her little friend was not going to have a birthday party due to the holidays. Already, I was proud of her for using her saved money to buy a gift for someone else, but that was not my lesson.So, as we are walking into Wal-Mart I hear the "ringing of the bell" by the Salvation Army volunteer. In true Monica style I lower my eyes and try to take the longest route around the bucket. It is at that very moment that Ashlynn walks closer and stops and stares. I wanted to scream "You gotta walk fast or they will make you feel something." She started to take out her change, $.60. She dropped it in and then walked up to me and asked what the salvation army was. I gave her some uneducated guess about them being a group that helps people and dismissed it as a good explanation. I was proud of her, but that was not my lesson.She started looking for a gift and taking a more than usual notice of how much she was spending. She chose two one dollar gifts and said that she was done. Odd for Ashlynn because she always spends every cent. We went to the checkout and I made sure that we went to the "do it yourself" to make sure that I'm "teaching" her how to do these things. She finishes and then looks at me and says what I will never forget. I want to take all of the rest of my money and give it to that guy with the bell so that he can help other people. I had failed her. I had given her an ordinary description of a great organization. I had made sure to talk to her about how to look at prices to be sure that she could afford the gift. I was sure to choose the self check out so that I could teach her how to be independent. And, I missed the one lesson that Jesus would have taught, love and help others.In that very moment while she dropped her every hard earned dollar into that red bucket, I learned the lesson. I will never lower my eyes and take the long way around that bucket. I will drop in money eveytime and remember that God uses our kids to teach us lessons.The salvation army has a slogan, "When you put money in our kettle expect change." That is very true!

What I believe

God is perfect, man is not. There is no perfection in churches, religions, preachers, elders, grandparents, scholars, authors, friends, leaders, missionaries, Christian schools, church founders, parents, disciples of Jesus, or anyone else that is not Jesus Christ. So in all of my recent obsessive searching for answers I have only come to this conclusion. I believe in God, I believe that he sent his son Jesus to live on this earth, die and be resurrected. I believe that I am saved by grace through faith and expected to live a life that honors God, while remembering that I am not perfect and I will let down myself, others, and my savior. I believe that since the death of Jesus there have been many great people that have lived their lives in the best way that they knew how in order to honor and worship him. I do not believe that their lives are to be a pattern for mine. The only life that is worthy of duplicating is that of Jesus. With that conviction, I do not believe that there is a perfect place to worship in past or present. I do not believe that there is a perfect eldership to worship under. I do not believe that there is a perfect minister in which to hear the word. I do not believe that there is a perfect music service in any church anywhere. I DO believe that God is honored with my conviction to seek him, worship him, and take him to others every chance that I get.

GOOD QUOTES

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar

I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” - Tony Campolo

Blog Archive

Grace is not license to sin but the power to overcome it. - Kay Arthur

As a believer, understand that whatever season of life you’re in is not by chance; God has EQUIPPED and ANOINTED you for it. - Priscilla Shirer

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~Marianne Williamson, A

....It is so easy to not experience connection. Our busy lives pull us away from ourselves, so much so that we even forget how to breathe. We rarely hold still. Our bodies might be sitting with our children, but our minds are racing off in many other directions. When our little ones look us in the eyes, they know we are not there. And while it is not easy, it is vital that we resist this way of life that pulls us away from ourselves. For we teach our children not so much by preaching lessons or dogma to them as by the way we walk and sit and see the world. They will learn to breathe and smile and be compassionate and connected to themselves and to their world through our example.....Denise Roy

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. ~Frank A. Clark
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“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
-Maya Angelou